2. amps-preamps
  3. 149996-116612

Does my setup need a phono stage?

Tt: Marantz tt15s1, pre/pro: Marantz av8802a (phono built in) Amps: Mcintosh. Speakers: ML ESL-X. Subs: REL T7i. Power: 20a Furman elite. IC’s: Tempo Electric pure silver. A ridiculous amount of other tweaks. 

I love my new ( and my first) turntable. I love putting on a record, the tactile and ceremonial feel of it. I love reading the notes and looking at the art. Don’t get me wrong, streaming MQA on my SimAudio is great, but I feel like I’m finally listening to the music and not just playing with my roon; searching for the next recoding that’s gonna really show off those synergistic blue fuses and ps audio noise harvesters. Y’all know what I mean? It’s more relaxed. It feels good. 

I’m glad I got that out. So..... here is the question, Will a dedicated phono stage make an audible improvement over the one in my Marantz 8802a, which already sounds awesome, or should I just stick with what I have? I’d like to spend less than $1200, I’d love to spend less than $700. Low noise is important to me (I spent the good part of a year chasing noise out of my system). I want the output of my cartridge (Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood) to match the gain of the phono stage, so it’ll need to be close to 48.8dB. New or used, tube or SS. I’d like suggestions, Id love to research them. And let’s be honest, y’all know that in this hobby (affliction) even if 98% of you say “just use the built in phono in your Marantz” I’m probably still gonna chase the dragon. So bring it on, and thanks in advance. 

Andrew 


andrewkelley

Showing 4 responses by andrewkelley

andrewkelley OP
277 posts
 
@big_greg

I have been looking for a phenomena 2+ as well, but they are pretty pricy. can you explain home theatre bypass ? Why is it different than pure direct? I have been wondering about my preamp. I love the home theater, but I mainly listen to 2 channels. The way I have it set up now is kind of unique. I have a six channel amp just for my home theater which is a Mcintosh Mc7106 and I have a two channel Mcintosh ma5200 integrated amp (for my two channel set up. When I press the pure direct button on my Marantz, it’s only sending 2 channels to my Ma5200 preamp in. Marantz states “This mode is for playback with higher sound quality than in Direct playback mode.

This mode turns off the main unit display and analog video circuit. Doing so suppresses noise sources that affect sound quality.”

When I’m eating a movie , I put it in Dolby atmos and it sends out the remaining six channels to my Mc7106 amp. I’ve been happy with the Marantz, but i definitely want to know if I’m missing out on something. It was my understanding that it’s basically the same as using a Mcintosh mx160 but thousands less and without the sexy McLogo.

Thoughts?

@big_greg

andrewkelley OP
277 posts
 
@big_greg 
i wonder if I can use my mc5200  integrated in home theatre bypass and use two empty channels I have on my Mc7106 for the front speakers....  it does preamp out and power amp in rca jacks on the back. Maybe I can hook everything to the ma5200 and use the Marantz just for theatre.... I’m gonna call Mcintosh!  
andrewkelley OP
277 posts
 
So I actually Rewired everything and I am now using my Mcintosh MA5200 integrated as my preamp! It has “pass through” aka home theatre bypass. I had no idea that was even a thing until this thread. Now when I listen to my Dac or my tuner or my turntable (yes it has a phono input!!!) it goes through the Mcintosh, but as soon as I touch a button on my appletv remote, the Marantz sends a signal to the Mcintosh and it enters pass through and becomes slave to the Marantz. Everything sounds way better. @w
andrewkelley OP
277 posts
 
@bacobits1 that setup is niiiiice! I’ll be dining more research on rogue for sure. The phenomena ii+ with external linear power supply is creeping up the list as well. 

@big_greg thanks for all the advice! I’ve read that 6moons review, and all I can say is the Mcintosh phono stage is better than the Marantz’, which although I was able to achieve better sound, only temps me to dig deeper with a killer pre. But you should have heard how good Duran Duran’s “The Chauffeur” just sounded. The music was all around coming from everywhere, it was rad. 


More to discover